WHEALTHSPAN

What does fitness actually do to a heart attack — and its outcome? Most people assume fitness protects the heart. That's partially true. But the bigger story is what a fit heart does during and after a cardiac event. In this video, we look at how fitness changes the way the heart functions — stroke volume, heart rate range, recovery — and then put two hearts, a fit one and an unfit one, to th...

Most people think they're managing their healthspan. Exercise, diet, sleep, supplements... good habits, but can we predict healthspan from them? Today we put that to the test. We look at biological age testing, clinical medicine, and the entire wellness advice landscape — and ask the one question they all avoid. What actually predicts functional healthspan? The answer is simpler, faster, dire...

Mistakes leading to lost health years are many, and led to decades of debate and confusion. It's the absence of a framework, explains Prof. Scott Fulton, author of the #1 Best Seller, F UNCTION, Turn Your Blind Spots into Strengths Medicine focuses on disease, but active independence is dictate 2-to-1 by functional ability, not by disease. Fitness claims to have the answer, but exercise doesn...

We often overlook the simplest things, and walking is no exception. Whether you're already a walker or you're needing some serious motivation, this will grab your attention. Professor Scott Fulton explains 8 solid reasons why walking a bit faster will enable you to get more out of your walking, including the benefits  to the brain and social circle. Prof. Fulton is the author of the #1 B...

Is VO2Max all it's made out to be? If all you're concerned about is living longer, maybe, but if it's healthspan you're aiming for, be mindful of the trap meany fall into. Lifespan and healthspan are different things, and assumptions can lead to misgivings. Professor of Healthspan and Aging, Scott Fulton explains VO2Max, what it does, and its limitations. 1:17 What makes for a...

Popular exercise advice doesn't stand up under real test. These activities do, and why. You've been told to optimize VO2max, build muscle, and track your steps. That advice isn't wrong — but misses the mark on converting activities into healthspan.  Professor of Healthspan and Aging. Scott Fulton makes the case that fitness does not guarantee healthspan — they are not the same thing...

Walking speed is one of the most powerful predictors of long-term health, longevity, and independence — especially for women over 50. Validated across hundreds of thousands of people over decades, the 6-Minute Walk Test outperforms step counting by every meaningful measure. In this episode, Scott Fulton — professor of healthspan and aging and creator of the 5 Domains of Functional Healthspan — bre...

This series explores how you can reliably measure your healthspan and longevity based on research of over 700,000 subjects over 5 decades using simple functional tests across the 5 domains of physical and cognitive function. In studies tracking thousands of adults over decades, researchers discovered this 45-second balance test is the most powerful predictor of falls, mobility loss, and cognitive...

This series explores how you can reliably measure your healthspan based on research of over 700,000 subjects over 5 decades using simple functional tests across the 5 domains of physical and cognitive function.    In a study of 140,000+ people across 17 countries, researchers discovered this 3-second grip strength test predicted heart attack, stroke, and early death better than blood pressure meas...

Gameify your brain at every age. It's why some things are fun to learn and why brain healthspan is often more fun than exercise. Cognitive Reserve explains why, despite physical aging, some people's brains remain sharp, even into old age. Neuroplasticity is exercise for the brain, but instead of building muscle, it builds neural connections—the circuitry in your brain. Age doesn't d...

New Medicare funding model could move from sick care to building healthspan. This WHEALTHSPAN Podcast episode explores how #lifestyle #medicine can transform #healthcare in the wake of CMS’s decision to fund lifestyle‑based models for chronic disease starting in 2026. The conversation with Nudj Health CEO, Yuri Sudhakar, unpacks how targeted changes in nutrition, activity, sleep, stress, and socia...

Chris Heye, PhD, is my guest on this informative conversation on how AI is about to collide with the financial planning industry and what that might mean for your retirement account.  Dr. Heye has been a pioneer in this area since MIT graduate school. He's lived the experience and seen families lose millions, and what that means to the individuals and the companies involved.  There is rising...

Start asking your financial planner better questions, because chances are, they aren't offering up the information you really need.  The financial industry has been talking about Longevity Risk for a few years, and so you might think they've got you covered. I'm sorry to report that longevity risk is more of a marketing term than anything of substance when it comes to financial plan...

We go behind the headlines and into the mind of one of the world's top endurance athletes to understand what makes him tick.  Life is an Ultra - It's a comment I've heard often, and it always triggers a pause, because we all struggle to imagine life very far down the road. Endurance athletes do it every day, and possess unique insights that can apply to all of us. Harvey Lewis is be...

Personal journeys are filled with challenges and opportunities, and my guest, Raad Ghantous, has experienced an abundance of both.  Our conversation explores the vulnerable edges of exploring bigger life opportunities, looking forward.  Raad talks about the 75-Hard transformational program he is currently doing, and the big things happening with Raad Life. Learn more at: https://www.raadghantous.c...

Incredibly inspiring story of Mike Wien. The man is unstoppable! With multiple World Championships to his credit, the road has been anything but smooth or easy.  Mike left a successful corporate marketing executive career to focus his energy on his passions. One of them is Ironman triathlon, which leverages his amazing running talent.  He's a mentor to his teammates and is followed by thousan...

Drawing on decades of experience working with elite performers, Dr. Clayton Skaggs zeroes in on what truly matters. Simple, small things that we tend to overlook, can add up to several more years, whether you're a professional, an Olympic athlete, or an average person on the street. Dr. Skaggs' client list is unrivaled, yet his greatest ambition is to help average people live much better...

Ajay Joseph, MD, leads the Lifestyle Medicine Program for St. Francis Health System. The success he has had with the program is evident in the stories he shares. What's more, other department specialists have begun referring their patients to him.  There isn't a lifestyle medicine for each organ; it addresses every aspect of health, and the evidence is overwhelming. Doctors are getting t...

Architect Aaron Murphy explains how many of us have got $500k hiding in our homes.  After age 50, health and housing will cost more than everything else combined for most of us. Optimal outcomes demands an informed strategy designed around your unique needs and values.  Builders are still building the same old way, even though today's needs have changed significantly.  Informed buyers are tak...

Ravi Prakash is a global speaker, author, poet, and transformation strategist, whose life journey spans continents, hardships, and reinvention.  He came to the United States with just $20 in his pocket. The rest is history... and countless setbacks.  website: https://www.journeywithravi.com/ email: worldcitizenravi@gmail.com Book: SAFAR, An Immigrant's Journey of Life and Leadership Whealthsp...

In this insightful episode, Prof. Scott Fulton sits down with Dr. Sue Paul to explore the cutting edge of brain health and aging well. They open by debunking persistent myths—like the idea that cognitive decline is purely genetic or an inevitable part of aging—setting the stage for a conversation grounded in optimism and science. Dr. Paul shares details about Kinnections, a cognitive health interv...

My guest this week is Colin Milner . Colin is uniquely positioned at the intersection of health and housing , enabling us to have a special conversation on an important topic that nearly everyone overlooks. Colin is CEO of the International Council on Active Aging and is well-known in senior living circles across the globe. We discuss the challenges and new opportunities arising in health and hous...

VO2 Max is about more than exercise. Arguably, the mitochondrial benefit is at least as important as the cardiovascular benefits. Combined with nutrition, they help explain why VO2 Max is such a powerful predictor of healthspan and longevity. Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky, MD, PhD, isn't just a top researcher and clinician; he's also been an elite athlete for over 40 years. He's been putting...

Retirement isn't the time to slow down. Nurse educator Carol Ebert lives that truth every day.  Wellness Specialist and Business Entrepreneur Carol Ebert is a creative force for education and wellness.  Her career began in Nursing but her vision was more aligned with prevention than treatment, so she shifted to wellness, her true passion.   As a true pioneer in the Wellness Industry, her prof...

What if you could reverse-engineer your life? You'd want to learn as much as you could from a doctor who has devoted a career to accompanying people in their final years, months, weeks, days, and hours. All the distractions of daily life vanish, and suddenly life and its meaning become crystal clear.  Doctor Greg Andreas, MD, shares rare insights learned from helping others look back on their...